In the room, a folding screen embroidered with an ink landscape came into view. Overlooking the distant mountain, contemplating the beautiful waters, indeed a wonderful landscape, a fine area of aesthetic style.
Bypassing the folding screen, an eight immortal table was firmly placed in the center of the room. The crossbeams were carved with spider lilies, appealingly irregular and intricate. A set of blue and white porcelain teacups was unassumingly placed in the center of the table. The air was still exuding a bit of tea fragrance. At the first whiff, a breath of freshness shocked their senses making one instantly feel energized and refreshed.
Meanwhile, Feng Yi Xuan, who sat at the eight immortal table, Lan You Nian and others were very at ease as they tasted the flower tea that was Lan You Nian’s original creation. They discovered, the closer they got to Lan You Nian, the more wonderful Lan You Nian became. This kind of female was rare to find in the world.
“Nian’er meimei, how can you do so much?” Jing Wu An marveled. When he heard the flower tea they were tasting was made by Lan You Nian, then recalled the fruit jelly from that day, and that song which its music still lingered in his ears, Jing Wu An had to admire Lan You Nian.
“Hehe” After Lan You Nian infused a cup of flower tea for Lan Wu, everyone observing how Lan Wu and Lan Qu, these two servant girls, can casually follow Lan You Nian, they can just imagine these two, to Lan You Nian, wasn’t just simple servant girls. Moreover, Lan You Nian’s disregard of identity gave everyone a good impression.
“Young miss knows so much because young miss has been to many places since she was young! Moreover, young miss is the smartest woman in the world!” Lan Wu cupped the tea young miss infused for her, turning a blind eye to the daggers that everyone shot her as she bragged. Since young, their young miss began walking north and venturing south for Wu Qing Pavilion, probably not even men can do this.
“No shame!” Lan You Nian shot a glare at Lan Wu. She knew Lan Wu’s frank personality. Moreover, although Lan Wu and Lan Qu were older than her by a few years, towards her, they were all reverence. Lan You Nian sometimes thought it’s good that she wasn’t a man, otherwise, she will definitely forsake them both.
“Nian’er meimei, you even went to so many places?” Hua Mu Qing asked enviously. Since she was born, she has not left the capital. Only the heavens knew how much she wanted to go out and see the world.
“Of course, when young miss was a child, she went to many places all by herself…” As Lan Wu kept talking, she stopped, because she noticed the atmosphere in the room became heavy. Those people looked at young miss with a gaze of heartfelt pain.
Amongst these people, Feng Yi Xuan felt the most heartache. He seemed to see that solitary figure wearing a veil wandering alone once again. He could even imagine how lonely that frail and thin figure was in this vast world. He, at this moment, hated himself. Why didn’t he find her sooner? He could have accompanied her in wandering together. He could have given her a stable life.
At the same time, the others looked at Lan You Nian who was now only 13 years old. Clearly, she was so thin and frail that it seemed a gust of wind could blow her down, but in so many nights in the past, this girl without family beside her, walked alone in this wide world, how aggrieved she must have been? If they heard other people’s matters, they will, at most, glance at it or listen to it, that’s all. But now, this girl whom they considered a friend, even more, a little sister, of course, the feelings in their hearts was different.
“What? Lan Wu, this girl when she normally has nothing to do likes to exaggerate the facts. Has it scared you?” In the room, the only one without any feelings was Lan You Nian. Her eyes curved as if no kind of wind and rain cannot cause her twin eyes to shed tears.
“Nian’er meimei, in the future, older sister will protect you. Wherever you go, you can bring along your older sister!” Hua Mu Qing came to Lan You Nian’s side, linked her arm around Lan You Nian’s elbow, but the tone of her voice was endlessly sincere.
“Hehe, I think Mu Qing jiejie just wants to go out to play?” Lan You Nian lifted Hua Mu Qing’s chin, revealing a salacious expression.
Perhaps because the captivation of Lan You Nian’s eyes was too great, even a brazen woman like Hua Mu Qing became red-faced. Seeing Hua Mu Qing so shy, Lan You Nian couldn’t stop laughing. The melodious laughter rang in the box, causing everyone to laugh as well.
“Hey, I say junzhu, you finally look a little like the female you are, but it’s towards Nian’er meimei, haha——” Lan Mo Xian attacked Hua Mu Qing. He couldn’t imagine Hua Mu Qing who usually fooled around with them couldn’t stand his own little sister’s casual tease.
“Don’t know if junzhu is blushing because of Nian’er meimei‘s charm or blushing because Nian’er meimei correctly guessed junzhu‘s thoughts!” He Chu Yang also poked his nose into the matter. After all, anyone can tell Hua Mu Qing really wanted to go out the capital to play.
“Hmph! You guys just know to bully this junzhu!” Hua Mu Qing glared at the people around her, but skipped past Feng Yi Xuan, not because Feng Yi Xuan didn’t speak but simply because she did not dare.
“Not bully you then bully who? Bully Nian’er meimei?” As long as Hua Mu Qing was there, Lan Mo Xian would definitely be at odds with her. Today, the two have quarreled so many times they couldn’t keep count. Those who watched laughed nonstop.
“You dare! That is this junzhu‘s younger sister. Who dares to bully!” Hua Mu Qing shouted at Lan Mo Xian. That image of being absolutely justified made Lan Mo Xian start to suspect if Hua Mu Qing isn’t Nian’er’s biological sister. Otherwise, according to Hua Mu Qing’s temper, how could she protect Nian’er like this? How could Lan Mo Xian know the friendship between females was very strange, that as long the atmosphere was right then everything was right.
“Enough, you two have quarreled all day long. My head hurts. Today, I came here to sing Nian’er meimei‘s praises. Will you guys allow Nian’er meimei to get on stage?” Feng Xia Qi interrupted the quarrel between the two. He really wanted to hear Lan You Nian sing and did not want to hear any more quarreling.
“Oh right, Nian’er meimei go,” Hua Mu Qing pushed Lan You Nian. When Lan You Nian was ready to leave, she then pondered for a second and asked, “What kind of astounding song will Nian’er meimei sing today?”
Just as Hua Mu Qing finished asking this, the whole room of people turned to look at Lan You Nian. Lan You Nian laughed, “What does Mu Qing jiejie want to listen to?”
“Anything is ok? Wow! Nian’er meimei, you are too amazing!” Hua Mu Qing shouted with admiration then asked everyone, “What do you guys want to listen to? Hurry! So many people wish for this opportunity that won’t come in a lifetime!”
Everyone considered it but couldn’t think of anything. They looked to Feng Yi Xuan. Actually, their central decision-maker was Feng Yi Xuan. Not only were they friends, but Feng Yi Xuan was also a superior being and is a good leader.
“Sing whatever you want, as long as you’re happy!” Feng Yi Xuan said to Lan You Nian. Those pair of eyes never removed themselves from Lan You Nian’s body. His voice contained a distinct gentleness.
Lan You Nian nodded at Feng Yi Xuan. It seemed this man, no matter when she looks over, she could always see the man’s sincere eyes and the gaze that never left her. This kind of feeling wasn’t bad; it even made her feel happy.
Zhen Wei Pavilion’s large hall still was full as usual. When Lan You Nian appeared on the high platform, the large hall hushed down, “Today, Miao Yin will play the song 《Awakening from Dream》for everyone,” The words spoken were still simple without any extra superfluous words but within moments, there was the sound of a zither, like flowing water, carrying out from inside. Everyone held their breath, afraid to miss any of the wonderful sounds.
“You said you loved someone you shouldn’t have loved, your heart is full of scars.
You said you made a mistake you shouldn’t have made, your heart is full of remorse.
You said you have tasted all of life’s bitterness, you can’t find someone to believe in.
You said you felt extremely disheartened, even began to doubt the meaning of life.
If you already knew that hurt is always inevitable, why do you bother with deep affection?
Because love is always difficult to separate oneself from, why bother to care about that little bit of warmth.
You must know being hurt is inevitable, every time you awaken from the dream, some things you don’t have to ask now, some people you never have to wait for.
You said you loved someone you shouldn’t have loved, your heart is full of scars.
You said you made a mistake you shouldn’t have made, your heart is full of remorse.
You said you have tasted all of life’s bitterness, can’t find someone to believe in.
You said you felt extremely disheartened, even began to doubt the meaning of life.
If you already knew the hurt is always inevitable, why do you bother with deep affection?
Because love is always difficult to part from, why bother to care about that little bit of warmth.
You must know being hurt is inevitable, every time you awaken from the dream, some things you don’t have to ask now, some people you never have to wait for
If you already knew the hurt is always inevitable, why do you bother with deep affection?
Because love is always difficult to part from, why bother to care about that little bit of warmth.
You must know being hurt is inevitable, every time you awaken from the dream, some things you don’t have to ask now, some people you never have to wait for.
“Why does Nian’er meimei‘s song always carry a hint of sorrow” Hua Mu Qing gazed down at the figure within the beaded curtains. She admired her talent but, at the same time, for some reason, felt pity for her.
Hua Mu Qing asked the question everyone wanted to ask. Everyone turned their attention to Lan Wu and Lan Qu, obviously hoping to know why the girl they thought of as a little sister was always filled with sorrow that can’t be dispersed but Lan Wu and Lan Qu didn’t utter a word. Their young miss had many things even they didn’t know. Even the several young masters weren’t exactly sure. However, what they do know was already frightening enough. Such an overbearing poison, of monthly tortures, there were probably not many people who were as strong as young miss living in this world.
Ignoring the exaltation of the people in the hall, after Lan You Nian put away the zither, she left the high platform and returned to the third floor.
“Is it good?” Lan You Nian asked with a smile. She sang the songs she once liked. Now with these friends, she could sing for them. To them, it was a kind of auditory enjoyment. For her, it was also a kind of enjoyment of her own interest.
Due to the presence of Lan You Nian, without having to wait, the manager brought a server carrying dishes of delicate and exquisite foods into the box. Zhen Wei Pavilion’s food wasn’t the most delicious but was the most novel and the most exquisite. Many of the dishes in here were not seen in any other restaurant, so in Zhen Wei Pavilion not only was Lan You Nian’s zither music peerless, but the taste was also incomparable.
“Nian’er meimei, do you know Young Master Wu Qing?” As Hua Mu Qing tasted the delicious food, she scanned the unique decoration of Zhen Wei Pavilion and asked curiously.
“Of course I know. What? Mu Qing jiejie is in love with Young Master Wu Qing?” Lan You Nian joked. At this, even Lan Wu and Lan Qu standing behind her burst into giggles. Young miss was really too naughty. Obviously, Young Master Wu Qing was young miss herself yet young miss still teased junzhu so.
“How is that possible?” Hua Mu Qing denied. “I just wondered what kind of man of the world can have such a unique mind, moreover can even have such a sharp eye in discerning Nian’er meimei. Otherwise how can Nian’er meimei have such a large authority in Zhen Wei Pavilion right?”
“He….” Lan You Nian thought of her past life. She couldn’t help but think of that life that was completely filled with destruction and deceit that created the Young Master Wu Qing in this life. Everyone can clearly feel the thick pressure and sorrow in the air. This kind of sorrow bore down so heavily on everyone that they couldn’t breathe. Lan Wu and Lan Qu looked at each other. They knew this was the precursor to the activation of young miss’s poison. Every time young miss’s poison was about to awaken, her mood was not particularly stable, even repeatedly had nightmares. They don’t know what the nightmares were but there was a time when young miss wailed hoarsely in the middle of the night. They can still remember that moment clearly. Just what kind of hurt made young miss become like this?
Lan Wu immediately ran out of the box and went to another room to find the third young master. After all, today young miss originally prepared to see third young master. Now with third young master by young miss’s side, it will be much safer when the poison activates. Moreover, third young master treated young miss very well, they knew very well.
Feng Yi Xuan suddenly grabbed Lan You Nian’s hand, murmured in a low tone, worriedly, “Nian Nian?”
Lan You Nian’s was dragged back to reality in an instant. On her face was still the same slight smile that was like a warm breeze. She self-consciously retracted her hand. Everyone was still immersed in the atmosphere that Lan You Nian released so didn’t notice.
“Young master Wu Qing is a beautiful man! Mu Qing jiejie, is your heart moved?” Teasing laughter made everyone in the box come back to their senses. They knew Lan You Nian must have experienced something, but this girl wasn’t willing to tell them, so they will not go dig out people’s secrets. She was their friend. They will take good care of her in the future.
“Ha, not me! Who doesn’t know Young master Wu Qing is heartless?” Hua Mu Qing shouted. Since she understood Lan You Nian wanted to make the atmosphere lively, Hua Mu Qing purposefully made a ruckus with Lan You Nian.
“Goddess’s song today was very beautiful. When can I ask the goddess out to eat?” Yu Liu Li asked eagerly. He admired this Lan You Nian very much so he wanted to be friends with Lan You Nian.
“Goddess?” Lan You Nian laughed. “Just call me Nian’er. In the future, if there is an opportunity, everyone go out and have fun together. It just so happens Mu Qing jiejie can go outside to look around!”
“Yes! When the time comes, Nian’er meimei can’t break your promise!” Yu Liu Li was very happy. After all, people like them who have status very rarely can be so happy like today, eating a meal together and chatting with friends.
“Nian’er meimei, you are amazing. I didn’t waste my doting on you!” Hua Mu Qing was so happy she wanted to give Lan You Nian a hug. When Feng Yi Xuan’s frigidly glanced at Hua Mu Qing, Hua Mu Qing instantly returned to her own seat, even sat up very straight and proper.
Lan You Nian could feel there was something wrong with her body. The poison was already starting to awaken. Lan You Nian gently put down the chopsticks, he hand in her sleeves trembled slightly.
eight immortal table-square table, fitting all styles, economical and practical
walking north and venturing south-metaphorically means traveling extensively
junzhu-second rank princess
jiejie-older sister
meimei-little sister
T/N: Done! I’m off to bed now. Goodnight everyone! 🙂